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| FIXTURE HISTORY |
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| Season 84 | L | 1 - 6 | Tournament (Group Phase) | | Season 83 | D | 2 - 2 | Tournament (Group Phase) |
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The Darkness Returns
Reece Refusal
For the third season in a row, Grilled were drawn against Germany's Stormarn Blackbirds in The Golden Trophy, and for the third time, they would not be able to get one over their shadowy relations. There would however at least be some improvement over the last edition, in a reduced margin of defeat.
Tian Yonghang would have some returning options today, with
Federico Parada reinstated on the left, and
Phua Ming Xin starting alongside
Chan Ze Han in a trial of how the two central strikers could work together. The Blackbirds went with a 3-4-3 weighted more towards the right against Parada, with Dimitrije Tončev captaining an otherwise centre-heavy side. This gave rise to a stalemate for the better part of the first half, whick saw two compact blocs of players bash their heads ineffectually against each other.
Grilled Birds were at least a lot more positive here than they managed against Mikeys two days ago, and the Blackbirds' caution against Parada was well warranted, as the Bolivian winger danced through their lines more than once. He would be contained by sheer weight of numbers each time, unfortunately. After being crowded out once too often, Parada's patience would finally be spent, leading to a blatant trip on Bertil Lerche that was immediately punished by a card.
The Birds were still the ones pushing the initiative for the most part, but they just could not find a way past the opposition middle, some poor understanding between Chan and Phua not helping.
Chia Kwang Tse's being pushed out of the box after a 36th minute breakout exemplified this tendency, which turned painful indeed as they kicked it long for 19 year-old Nils Damaske on the return. There wasn't much time to think, but Damaske's instinctive hooking of the ball into the centre went right to Tibet Ertunç for 1-0.
Grilled transformed falling behind into strength as they got the Blackbirds reeling on their reponse, with a sudden switch to the right finding
Egemen Dinçer Ferzan with acres of space. This had the Turkish winger free
Joe Reece, who however knocked it weakly to Joerg Gsödl. The throw out was sensationally intercepted by
Aw Keng Chuan, but it still wouldn't be enough for the Birds, as the defender rushed his shot slightly over the crossbar.
Worse was to come, as the Blackbirds made full use of Grilled's momentary deflation, to launch a lightning raid. Leif Möllerbrant was not about to be stopped by ordinary means as he barged into the six-yard box, ball at feet, and
Chad Thach imposing himself between the Swede and goal would be judged as worth a penalty. Möllerbrant converted it himself stroking it calmly past Germanakos, as the Blackbirds then conceded a yellow card of their own, for Phil Schwindt's delaying of a free-kick won from the restart.
That did not change the fact that Grilled Birds were two goals in the hole, and Chan would be off at half-time, with Tian reverting to
Orest Tokarz in a more familiar-looking front three. It definitely operated more smoothly with the youngsters not having to defer, but the Blackbirds were coming into their own too. After 58 minutes, they would get through the middle after a couple of high-risk passes went well, and Dimitrije Tončev let it run a little longer than most others would have, before adding his touch for the third.
This was perhaps less than Grilled deserved, but there was nothing for it but to soldier on in faint hope, with Parada the next departure. The armband would thus reach
Enrique Baena once more, but for all of the fiery Spaniard's heart, it was Blackbirds calling the shots now, and they were unlucky not to go four up as they busted by on the left two minutes later, with only a great reaction save by
Dimitris Germanakos keeping them out. Then again, this might have just been fortune balancing itself out.
Gilbert Webb was Grilled's third and final sub on for
Damian Hutter, which frankly didn't make much sense if the objective was to chase the game - not that the odds were good on that. Indeed, the Birds would be fairly passive to the end... until
Joe Reece popped up with a sudden header in injury time that took Joerg Gsödl by surprise. There would be a collective shout for handball by the Blackbirds players, but with replays proving inconclusive, the goal stood. 3-1! Ertunç might have had the final say yet, but spurned his own clear chance in the dying seconds.
